One of the Huskers’ most well-known traditions is the Blackshirts, which has become the
common nickname for Nebraska’s defensive unit. The term originally dates back to the early
1960s and refers to the black jerseys that Nebraska’s first-string defenders wear in practice.
With the return of the two-platoon system in college football in 1964, Head Coach Bob
Devaney looked for a way to distinguish the defensive units on the practice fields. Devaney
dispatched Assistant Coach Mike Corgan to a local sporting goods store to find some
“contrast jerseys,” a sleeveless pullover that went on top of the players’ practice jerseys.
While the top offensive unit practiced in red jerseys and the second-string offense worked
in green pullovers, the first string defense wore black pullovers and the second string wore
the contrasting gold jerseys.
The term quickly caught on, and gained momentum during Monte Kiffin’s tenure as
defensive coordinator in the mid-1970s, before the Blackshirts earned national acclaim under
Charlie McBride, who served as the Huskers’ defensive coordinator from 1982 to 1999.
BLACKSHIRT TRADITION
• Nebraska has ranked in the top 10 nationally in total defense 22 times since 1964.
• Nebraska has ranked among the nation’s top 10 in all four major defensive categories
(rush defense, pass defense, total defense and scoring defense) on five occasions,
including 2009 and national title seasons in 1994, 1995 and 1997.
NEBRASKA BLACKSHIRTS
The Blackshirt defense has thrived under the tutelage of Head Coach Bo Pelini.
• With Pelini as defensive coordinator in 2003, Nebraska forced a school-record 47
turnovers, including a conference-record 32 interceptions. Nebraska ranked second
nationally in scoring defense, and 16 Blackshirts from the 2003 team went on to play in
the National Football League.
• The 2008 Blackshirts were among the nation’s most improved defenses. The Huskers
finished second in the Big 12 in total defense, allowing 126.9 fewer yards per game than
in 2007.
• Nebraska’s 2009 defense was among the nation’s most dominant units. The Huskers led
the nation in scoring defense, limiting opponents to 13 or fewer points 10 times in 14
games. Nebraska also ranked seventh nationally in total defense.
• The 2010 Blackshirts ranked in the top-12 nationally in four statistical categories, including
third in pass efficiency defense, ninth in scoring defense and 11th in total defense.
• The 2011 Nebraska defense ranked in the top 40 nationally in total defense, pass defense
and pass efficiency defense. Linebacker Lavonte David was the Big Ten Linebacker of the
Year and cornerback Alfonzo Dennard was the Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year.
Grant Wistrom, Mike Brown, Mike Rucker, Ndamukong Suh, Barrett Ruud and Lavonte David
10
|
THISISNEBRASKA.COM HUSKERS.COM
PROMINENT PUPILS COACHED BY PELINI
• Deion Sanders, CB, San Francisco 49ers
• Merton Hanks, CB, San Francisco 49ers
• Ted Johnson, LB, New England Patriots
• Tedy Bruschi, LB, New England Patriots
• Nai’l Diggs, LB, Green Bay Packers
• Demorrio Williams, LB, Nebraska
• Josh Bullocks, FS, Nebraska
• Barrett Ruud, LB, Nebraska
• Dan Cody, DE, Oklahoma
• Glenn Dorsey, DT, LSU
• Craig Steltz, S, LSU
• LaRon Landry, S, LSU
• Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska
• Prince Amukamara, CB, Nebraska
• Jared Crick, DT, Nebraska
• Lavonte David, LB, Nebraska
“Nebraska is the best place in America to play defense. I can’t say
more about our coaches than what I know in my heart—they are
the best.”
Ndamukong Suh, 2009 Heisman Finalist
PRO BLACKSHIRTS
• Twenty former Nebraska Blackshirts were on NFL rosters
as of June 1.
• Nebraska has had 15 defensive linemen, 11 linebackers
and 14 defensive backs drafted since 1998.
• Nineteen Blackshirts have been taken in the first four
rounds of the NFL Draft since 2000.
NFL DEFENSIVE DRAFT PICKS
(BIG TEN ONLY)
SINCE 1997
53
Left: Coach Pelini congratulates Jared Crick on senior day. Right: The 2011 Blackshirts make a tackle at home vs. Washington.
49
THE PELINI FACTOR
31
Bo Pelini’s college defenses have a history of dominance, whether at Nebraska, LSU or Oklahoma. Pelini-led defenses have
established themselves as a fixture in the top 10 of numerous national categories.
During his time as Nebraska head coach, Pelini and his defensive staff have helped re-establish the Blackshirts as one of
the nation’s most dominant defenses. Nebraska’s combined defensive statistics from 2009 to 2011 stack up favorably with
any other school in the country.
29
27
COMBINED NATIONAL DEFENSIVE RANKINGS Έ2009ͳ11Ή
In combined defensive numbers from 2009 to 2011, the Nebraska Blackshirts rank in the top 10 nationally in four categories- total defense, scoring defense, pass efficiency defense and passing yards
allowed. Nebraska is one of only five schools in the country to rank in the top 10 in each of those four categories in terms of combined stats from 2009 to 2011. The other schools in that group are Alabama,
LSU, Ohio State and Boise State.
Total Defense
Three-year Average/Rank
9th (308.8 ypg)
Best Season
7th in 2009 (272.0 ypg)
Scoring Defense
Three-year Average/Rank
6th (16.9 ppg)
Best Season
1st in 2009 (10.4 ppg)
Pass Efficiency Defense
Three-year Average/Rank
2nd (99.74)
Best Season
1st in 2009 (87.23 ra ng)
Passing Defense
Three-year Average/Rank
7th (174.5 ypg)
Best Season
5th in 2010 (153.6 ypg)
NATIONAL RANKINGS UNDER PELINI
1
Pass Efficiency Defense (2003, 2009)
Turnover Margin (2003)
Interceptions (2003)
Scoring Defense (2009)
2
3
Scoring Defense (2003)
Turnovers Gained (2003)
Turnover Margin (2007)
Total Defense (2005, 2006, 2007)
Pass Efficiency Defense (2005,
2006, 2007, 2010)
Passing Yards (2006)
Scoring Defense (2004, 2005)
Turnovers Gained (2007)
4
Scoring Defense (2006)
2003, 2008-11 = Nebraska
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2004 = Oklahoma
5
6
7
9
Pass Defense (2010)
Rushing Defense (2004, 2005)
Total Defense (2009)
Passing Yards (2007)
Rushing Defense (2009)
Scoring Defense (2010)
2005-2007 = LSU
|
INTRO THIS IS NEBRASKA COACHES 2012 HUSKERS SEASON REVIEW RECORDS HISTORY ADMINISTRATION MEDIA
11